Biggers mural now subject of online fundraiser

In addition to pursuing federal and corporate funds to save an imperiled John Biggers mural, Blue Triange Multi-Cultural Association leaders have embraced the 21st century way of raising dollars fast: They've created a GoFundMe page.

The 1953 indoor mural, "Contribution of Negro Women to American Life and Education," is endangered by a leaky ceiling at the Third Ward community center.

The page, which states a $205,000 goal (the price for a roof replacement), had not collected any funds as of early Tuesday morning. The site features a photo of Biggers standing in front of the mural. Potential donors had been directed to the organization's web site since last week's Chronicle story reported the dilemma about the prized painting.

The mural is "incredibly stable," according to Museum of Fine Arts, Houston curator Alison de Lima Greene, who examined the work on Monday.

Biggers, who died in 2001, was the longtime chairman of the art department at Texas Southern University. Considered one of the most important black American artists of the 20th century, he taught, influenced and mentored next-generation Houston muralists including Bert Samples, Jesse Sifuentes and Harvey Johnson.

Since Blue Triangle acquired the community center in 2000, its shoestring budget has enabled it only to patch the roof,, said Charlotte Kelly Bryant, the association's founding president and current executive director.

Waterproofing of two small roofs that affect the mural would cost $45,000, according to an estimate the group received late last year. Another company quoted $205,000 to completely replace the roofs that cover the entire 10,000-square-foot community center complex.

In addition to the Go Fund Me page, contributions via PayPal can be made by visiting www.the-bluetriangle.org and clicking the DONATE button.